David Byrne builds a night of magnificent art rock in Des Moines

That’s not a metaphor. He actually started the show sitting barefoot, behind a table, with a toy brain clutched between his fingers.

“Here is a region of abundant details,” he sings. “Here is a region that is seldom used. … Here is a region that continues living, even when the other sections are removed.”

Those words come from “Here,” the closing track of Byrne’s March release, “American Utopia” — his first solo effort in nearly 14 years. The former Talking Heads frontman returned Tuesday night to Des Moines, playing to 1,455 faithful at the Des Moines Civic Center.

Part of the "American Utopia" world tour, it was the first of what would be a 21-song performance showcasing Byrne’s four decades of acclaimed rock ‘n’ roll experimentation.

Here
Lazy
I Zimbra
Slippery People
I Should Watch TV
Dog's Mind
Everybody's Coming To My House
This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)
Once in a Lifetime
Doing the Right Thing
Toe Jam
Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)
I Dance Like This
Bullet
Every Day Is A Miracle
Like Humans Do
Blind
Burning Down The House